25 things I wish someone had told me before visiting Venice.
I'd wanted to visit Venice for years. Like so many people, I'd seen the dreamy photographs of empty canals, colourful buildings, and gondolas gliding beneath impossibly beautiful bridges. But while Venice certainly lived up to the hype, there were also plenty of things that caught me completely off guard.
Some made the trip even more magical. Others were little mistakes I wish I'd avoided from the start. From navigating the maze of narrow streets to knowing when to wander away from the crowds, countless small tips can make a huge difference to your experience.
So, before you pack your bags and step onto Italy's floating city, here are 25 things I genuinely wish someone had told me before visiting Venice.
1. Learn how Coperto works before your first restaurant bill
You’ll often be charged a cover fee for the table, bread and service. It’s normal, not a tourist scam.
2. If you’re paying for the bread, take the bread
Whether you eat it there or save it for a picnic the next day, you’ve already paid for it.
3. Don’t eat in the piazzas
The views are lovely. The prices are not. Walk a few streets away, and you’ll usually find better food for half the price.
4. Avoid restaurants with photo menus
This rule won’t always be right, but it’s rarely wrong. You’ll find these in most ‘piazzas’ (squares), and often people will be standing outside trying to call you in. Usually, the food is very similar to the typical Italian fare you expect; however, double or even triple the price and is rarely freshly made.
5. Get obsessed with cicchetti
Venice’s answer to tapas is one of the best ways to eat your way around the city.
6. A shared gondola is just as magical
Unless you’re planning a proposal, you probably don’t need a €100 private gondola.
7. Don’t wait until Murano to buy Murano glass
Much of it can be found throughout Venice for less money. Just look for authenticity certificates.
8. Burano is worth the journey
Everyone talks about Murano. Burano quietly steals the show.
9. Visit the Jewish Ghetto
It’s one of the most fascinating and underrated areas of Venice.
10. Carry cash
Cards are widely accepted, but smaller purchases are often easier with cash.
11. Learn a handful of Italian phrases
A little effort goes a surprisingly long way. Useful phrases:
Good morning. – Buongiorno // Good afternoon – Buonasera // Good day - Buona giornata
Excuse me – Mi scusi
I’m sorry - Mi dispiace
Where is the bathroom? – Dov’è il bagno?
How much does it cost? – Quanto costa?
One ticket, please – Un biglietto, per favore
I understand – Capisco // I don't understand - Mi non capisco
Can I reserve a table? – Posso prenotare un tavolo?
It’s too expensive – È troppo caro
Stop! Stop! - Basta! Basta!
To take away - Porta via
Do you speak English? – Parli inglese?
Is it open? – È apertone?
One bag please- uno borsa graci -
12. Don’t rush from attraction to attraction
Venice rewards wandering more than almost any city I’ve visited.
13. Buy a reusable water bottle
The city has plenty of free drinking water fountains.
14. A €5 spritz is the same as a €15 spritz
You’re usually paying for the location, not the drink.
15. Try a Select Spritz
A Venetian classic that deserves more attention than Aperol (See 17)
16. Sit on a bridge with a takeaway drink
One of the best evenings I had in Venice cost less than a cocktail.
17. Cicchetti bars beat expensive dinners
At least some of the time. My favourite cicchetti and spritz spots:
Ozio
Bacaretodalele
Osteria al Ponti
Osteria al Squaro
El Sbarlefo
Top tip: Get a takeaway spritz, or one from a supermarket and sit on the steps of one of the main bridges watching Venice go by and listening to street musicians.
18. Don’t order a latte
Unless you genuinely want a glass of milk.
19. The “no cappuccino after 11 am” rule is nonsense
Order one after lunch if you want, heck, order one at 9 pm. Nobody is calling the Italian police.
20. Book popular attractions ahead of time
Especially St. Mark’s Basilica. I used mostly Viator or Get Your Guide to book mine. Also, ticket prices for things are usually lower in the late afternoon/evening, e.g. 5 pm just before closing. If you’re a student/elderly, or child, and can show a valid student card, then you’ll likely get a reduced ticket too.
21. Early mornings belong to locals
Venice feels completely different before the crowds arrive.
22. Venice is surprisingly small
You’ll walk far more than you expect, so take comfortable shoes and learn to use the ferry system.
23. Use Google Maps, but don’t trust it completely
Venice occasionally likes to win arguments with technology. Use your initiative and try to remember the way.
24. Take advantage of grab-and-go pasta spots
Fresh pasta for under €10 is one of Venice’s greatest gifts. My favourites in Venice are Dalmoros and Baciepasta. Great also if you’re on a budget, have kids, or a fussy eater.
25. The best Venice memories won’t be on your itinerary
They’ll be the bridge you stopped on, the bar you stumbled into, the conversation you didn’t expect, and the street you got lost on.
